Let's go faithbathing

Ah, Spring Break!  Time to break free of winter with a sunny vacation.  At least that was the story in college.  Then I entered the real world where I had to surrender half my yearly vacation time to keep the Spring Break tradition.  Usually I’d just spend it at the end of the year.

In theory, Spring Break is a time to stop and relax.  We all need an occasional break from our routines for some essential rejuvenation.  Many typically imagine sunbathing on a warm beach.  That’s because soaking in the rays of the sun can invigorate us out of winter doldrums.

Our lives have seasons, too, so occasionally we need rejuvenation to break out of the winter doldrums of our lives.  But instead of lying on a warm beach soaking in the rays of the sun, our souls need to lie in the care of the Son of God soaking in the rays of faith.

You need never feel abandoned, lost, or unable to enjoy every blessing the gospel of Jesus Christ promises.  If you feel winter upon you in your life, it’s time to go faith-bathing!

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Mind your thinking habits

We create the quality of our lives with our thinking.  Our focus always becomes our reality.  When we wallow in the mire of negative thinking, our reality will be negative.  But when we routinely embrace positive thinking, our reality becomes positive.

We’re also hardwired to follow habits in everything, including how we think, and to keep repeating those habits regardless of the consequences.  This is why many continually repeat cycles of failure again and again, even though it hurts them.

That’s why faith-bathing is so essential.  Without the habit of immersing ourselves in a bath of positive thinking that fills us with belief we can actually feel, whatever other habit we do have won’t lead us to the faith we need to endure well the hardships of life.  We need to make faith-bathing a habit.

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Find your faithbathing habit

How we do that will vary from person to person.  But however we do it, we need to do it often.  Many faith-bathe when General Conference comes every six months, and rightfully so.  But as crazy as the world now is, we need total immersion in faith more often than twice a year.  We need to faith-bathe frequently.

On the radio program last week I suggested creating a Book of Faith.  Find a notebook and fill it with scriptures, quotes, and personal experiences that ignite your fire of faith.  The habit of compiling and regularly immersing yourself with that content can bathe your soul in the faith you need to have good cheer regardless of your circumstances.

You could also look to General Conference for ideas.  Pursuing an idea or direction from someone’s address can lead you to your faith-bathing habit.  The same could be said about the scriptures or a talk or lesson in church.

Of course, you can partner with the Lord to find your faithbathing habit.  Faith-bathing regularly brings us closer to the Savior.  With all He suffered for us borne out of pure love for each one of us, the Lord will show us our next step when we partner with Him.

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Start today

If you don’t know where to start, then start here.  What do you really believe and feel?  Do you really believe that possibility abounds for you?  Do you feel hope when you think about your future?  You will, if you truly believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you don’t, then go back and examine your habits of thinking.  Where is your focus?  On the obstacles or the opportunities, the problems or the possibilities, the bitterness or the blessings?  Whatever it is, your focus will always determine your reality.

The best life tends to come to those with the best habits of thinking.  So if you feel you’ll never have yours, you need to re-examine your beliefs.  When you truly believe the truth about who you are and how the universe works, you can’t help but feel optimistic inside.

You’re not here by accident.  You are in this place and time for a glorious proposition.  Bountiful blessings of greatness and goodness await you.  God has declared it because He believes in you.  Take Him at His word.  Believe in yourself the way He does.  Walk in that faith, and bathe in it regularly.

Life opens to those who open themselves to life.  Faith-bathing immerses us in the positive energy of true belief, belief so ingrained in our core that it defines who we are and radiates goodness to everyone around us.  That way of living is truly enjoyable.  So let’s not wait to enjoy every ounce of life God has granted us.  Let’s go faith-bathing!

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